What to Consider Before Purchasing a Slewing Ring

Finding the right slewing ring for your operation can be an intricate process, yet it will greatly increase your bearing's longevity when done correctly. When choosing a slewing ring, it's essential not to overlook a single detail. At SlewMaster, we've created the ultimate guide for purchasing a slewing ring. 

 

How to Choose a Slew Bearing

Before you begin your journey in purchasing a slewing ring, it's essential to have the statistics for load, speed, accuracy and torque right on hand. Once you have a thorough understanding of your base requirements for a slewing ring, it's time to dive into more complicated tasks, including: 

 

1. Investigate Your Support Structure

While you may assume your support structure will distribute your slewing ring load evenly, many do not. Make sure your slewing ring is not mounted on an irregular surface and has the proper support to bear the ring's weight. A higher bearing capacity cannot compensate for a lack of uniform support or strong bearing structure.

This time is also a prime opportunity to determine all maximum bearing loads, plus dynamic and static loads. Make sure you consider all applied forces on the gear and bearing, carefully accounting for how your loads can be impacted by severe weather, assembly, disassembly or a harsh impact. 

 

2. Determine the Required Gear Capacity and Preferred Mounting Arrangement

Some slewing rings come without gearing. If you desire to implement an integral gear, you must determine the required gear capacity. When calculating this number, consider how it may change under dynamic loads, inclines and overload testing. 

After determining the required gear capacity, it's finally time to find the preferred mounting arrangement. Some factors to examine in this measurement include pinion and gear location and maintenance requirements for your bearings and retaining bolts. Slewing bearings can suit multiple mounting arrangements and are highly customizable for your needs. 

 

3. Select a Preliminary Slewing Ring

Once you've narrowed down your potential slewing rings, choose your preliminary selection by comparing the resulting operational bearing forces to the rating curve of the bearing. While comparing these two factors, it's essential to include the service factor (SF) on the bearing's rating curve. For a bearing to be appropriate for its application, its required resultant force must fall below the curve. 

Your preliminary bearing's maximum thrust rating must exceed the maximum operating force thrust on the bearing by three times, no matter the momentary force in that condition.

After these requirements are met, ensure your bearing meets all your design specifications and allows for smooth rotation and load transmission.

 

Trust SlewMaster for Slew Ring Manufacturing 

At SlewMaster Inc., we're an expert provider of slewing rings for companies and industries all across the world. Our high-quality yet cost-efficient solutions are suitable for any application, and our team of experts is always ready to actively work with you to find the perfect slewing ring for your purpose. From our location in the heart of Mississauga, Canada, we create slewing rings that power the world.

No matter what type of slew ring you need, we're dedicated to developing a long-term relationship with your business. Contact us online and buy a slew ring bearing from us today to see how we can make a difference for your project.